On March 25, Tsinghua University hosted the 5th Latin American and Caribbean Ambassadors’ Dialogue, centering on the theme of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and its economic transition.

Qiu Yong, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee; Martin Charles, ambassador of Dominica to China; and Zhang Run, director-general of the Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, attended and delivered opening remarks. Yang Bin, vice chancellor of Tsinghua University Council, delivered the closing remarks.

More than 30 diplomats and representatives from the embassies and representative offices in China of 22 countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region participated in the activity.

Qiu Yong extended a warm welcome to the attending guests. He pointed out that the event has become an important platform for deepening exchanges and enhancing mutual trust between China and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tsinghua University attaches great importance to cooperation with countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Through initiatives such as the establishment of Tsinghua University Latin America Center and the active implementation of brand programs such as "China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges" , the University has strongly promoted educational and people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin America and the Caribbean.

This year marks the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Tsinghua will further implement its Global Strategy, working with all partners to promote deeper and more substantive China-LAC relations, and write a new chapter in building a China-LAC community with a shared future.

Martin Charles stated that while promoting its own development, China has become an important strategic partner for the Latin American and Caribbean region. He noted that cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and other frameworks has provided strong support for the development of Latin America in fields such as infrastructure construction, technology transfer, and energy transition. In the face of global challenges, he emphasized that all parties should adhere to the philosophy of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, ensuring that the fruits of development better benefit people's livelihoods.

Zhang Run stated that China-LAC cooperation has yielded fruitful results during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), and this event, held at the outset of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), carries significant importance. China is willing to take this as an opportunity to adhere to the correct strategic direction and make synergistic efforts in the three key areas of market alignment, energy transition, and industrial upgrading. By strengthening multilateral coordination, China aims to promote the steady and sustained development of the China-LAC comprehensive cooperative partnership.

Yang Bin stated that Tsinghua University has always been dedicated to deepening the friendship between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries. Moving forward, the Latin America Center will continue to serve as a bridge to promote people-to-people exchanges and deepen friendly cooperation between China and Latin America in such areas as economic development, youth empowerment, artificial intelligence (AI) and online education, empowering global development toward a more balanced, coordinated, and inclusive new stage.

During the event, Chen Taotao, director of the Tsinghua University Latin America Center, introduced the background, achievements, and future prospects of the "China-Latin America Youth Responding to Global Challenges—2025 Poverty Alleviation Challenge" project. Bai Chong-en, Dean of the School of Economics and Management, delivered a keynote report. He illustrated the main objectives of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), China's economic development milestones, and their underlying drivers. During the roundtable discussion, Martin Charles, Chen Taotao, and Bai Chong-en engaged in in-depth exchanges with envoys from multiple countries focusing on the theme of the event.

A group photo of all guests

The event was hosted by Tsinghua University and organized by the University’s Latin America Center, Institute for Global Development, Center for Global Competence Development, and Center for China-Latin America Management Studies at School of Economics and Management. Nearly 70 faculty members and students from relevant departments of Tsinghua University attended the event.

Editor: Li Han